PHIMA Strengthens Health Data Management Through Sensitization Workshop for Private Health Facilities

By Editor

The Kano State Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA) has successfully organized a one-day sensitization workshop for Proprietors and Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of private health facilities on health data documentation, reporting, and utilization.

The workshop, held at Tahir Guest Palace, brought together key stakeholders from the health sector, government agencies, and owners of private health facilities to strengthen the quality of health information through proper documentation, timely reporting, and effective use of health data for planning, policy formulation, and evidence-based decision-making.

In her welcome address, the Acting Director General of PHIMA, Hajiya Khadija Sa’id, emphasized the importance of accurate and timely health data in improving healthcare delivery across Kano State. She urged all private health facilities to maintain proper records of their patients and ensure that monthly health data reports are submitted to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officers in their respective Local Government Areas.

Hajiya Khadija expressed concern that while some private health facilities are duly registered with PHIMA, they fail to submit their monthly health data reports. She further noted that some facilities continue to operate without registration, while others obtain registration but fail to renew their licenses as required by law.

She warned that PHIMA would not hesitate to enforce the provisions of the law by sanctioning any facility found operating illegally, failing to renew its registration, or refusing to comply with statutory reporting requirements.

Delivering his remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Labaran Yusuf, stressed that every private health facility operating within Kano State must be duly registered and licensed. He stated that any private hospital operating without registration should be closed in accordance with the law.

The Commissioner noted that the safety of patients remains the government’s highest priority, explaining that a significant number of citizens seek healthcare services in private hospitals. Therefore, it is imperative that such facilities meet the required standards to ensure quality and safe healthcare delivery.

He also urged Chief Medical Directors and proprietors of private health facilities to consistently submit their monthly health data to the government, describing health data as an indispensable tool for effective planning, disease surveillance, resource allocation, and improving health outcomes across the state.

Also speaking at the workshop, the Director General of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board, Professor Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, highlighted the critical role of quality health data in strengthening the healthcare system. He explained that accurate documentation and timely reporting enable health authorities to identify disease trends, monitor service delivery, evaluate health interventions, and make informed decisions that enhance healthcare services. He encouraged participants to view data documentation not merely as a reporting obligation but as a professional responsibility that contributes to better healthcare outcomes.

In a presentation on the Overview of Health Data Documentation and Reporting Requirements, Alhaji Muhammad Sidi Abdullahi explained the standard procedures for collecting, documenting, and reporting health data within private health facilities. He emphasized the need for completeness, accuracy, consistency, and timeliness in data reporting, noting that quality data are essential for health planning, monitoring programme performance, and guiding government interventions. He also encouraged participants to adhere strictly to national health information management guidelines.

The workshop concluded with an interactive session during which participants asked questions, shared experiences, and discussed challenges affecting health data documentation and reporting. Practical solutions and recommendations were also highlighted to improve compliance and strengthen collaboration between PHIMA and private health facilities in Kano State.